Economist K N Raj dead

Thiruvananthapuram: Eminent economist Dr
K N Raj, who made significant contributions as an academic and
planning expert since 1950s, died at a private hospital here
today, family sources said.

Raj, 86, was undergoing treatment for old age-related
problems for quite some time. He is survived by two sons.
Held in high esteem by Jawaharlal Nehru, Raj was the
co-author of the foreword to the first Five Year Plan.

After working with the Reserve Bank of India and
Planning Commission, he returned to teaching with the
Economics department of Delhi University and also served as
its Vice Chancellor later.

In the 1970s, he returned to his home state Kerala and
set up the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), which became
a research centre of international repute.

Raj, in his early years, was known for his leftist
leanings, but subsequently distanced himself from the
country`s political Left.

A pioneering economist, who introduced the "Kerala
model of development", known for its high achievements in
social parameters, Raj had served as honorary economic adviser
to Prime Ministers from Nehru to P V Narasimha Rao.

He was also close to former President K R Narayanan
and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.